New Delhi: The Centre has sanctioned Rs 2,000 crore to set up 72,000 public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations nationwide, aiming to speed up EV infrastructure under the PM E-Drive scheme.
The decision followed an inter-ministerial meeting chaired by Union Minister for Heavy Industries, HD Kumaraswamy. The funding, part of a larger push for sustainable mobility, will support widespread EV charging deployment along key highway corridors and urban transit zones.
Infrastructure Focused on Key Transit Points
According to the Ministry of Heavy Industries, the proposed network will be rolled out across 50 national highway corridors and critical urban locations such as metro cities, airports, toll plazas, railway stations and industrial hubs. This geographic spread targets areas with high traffic density and public use.
Officials stated that the plan is part of a long-term effort to reduce transport-sector emissions and shift towards cleaner energy use in public and private mobility.
BHEL May Anchor Digital Interface for EV Users
State-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) is under consideration to serve as the nodal agency for the digital infrastructure component of the scheme. The agency would be responsible for aggregating demand and developing a unified digital platform or “super app” for EV users.
The app is expected to include features such as real-time charger availability at EV charging stations, slot booking payments and monitoring dashboards to track national-level deployment progress.
The move aligns with India’s broader energy and climate goals, including lowering reliance on fossil fuels and creating conditions for future net-zero mobility. Government officials have stated that the scheme is also expected to boost local manufacturing of EV infrastructure components under the Make in India framework.
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